Metrolinx saves municipalities money on new public transit vehicles

27 June 2011

“Metrolinx is pleased to help support municipalities through our Transit Procurement Initiative program to improve and expand public transit across Ontario,” said Metrolinx President and CEO, Bruce McCuaig. “By helping these municipalities get more value for their money, we continue to make progress on improving public transit services.”

The 12-metre buses are being acquired over three years, from 2011 to 2013, for a total order value of approximately $114 million. Municipalities and their transit service providers who participated in the joint bus order are saving approximately $10.9 million.

“Our government is committed to improving public transit,” said Ontario Minister of Transportation, Kathleen Wynne. “This partnership increases buying power and in turn decreases costs to municipalities and transit riders. New, accessible buses make taking public transit even more attractive.”

The 2011 order is worth approximately $30 million and includes 66 clean diesel and seven diesel electric hybrid buses that will arrive in March 2012. The joint procurement also includes an option for future orders in 2012 and 2013 for the remaining 214 buses.

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The clean diesel buses that will be delivered in 2011 will cost municipalities and transit service providers nine per cent less than the ones delivered in 2010 through a previous Metrolinx procurement. For the diesel electric hybrid bus order, the 2011 prices are 24 per cent lower. The clean diesel buses procured through this contract will be up to 15 per cent more fuel efficient thanks to new electrical accessories and lighter weights.

The Transit Procurement Initiative is a Metrolinx program with a mandate to help small and medium-sized municipalities save money by reducing unit costs through higher volume purchases and performance-based specifications: avoiding duplicate procurement costs and improving product quality and value for money.

This joint order complies with the province’s Canadian Content for Transit Vehicle Procurement Policy which sets a minimum of 25 per cent Canadian content for 12-metre transit buses.